Tight ends used to be big, bulky blockers who occasionally caught a pass or two. But over the years, a new breed of tight end has emerged—ones who run routes like wide receivers, create mismatches all over the field, and make defensive coordinators lose sleep.
These are the unicorns. The guys who could line up out wide, burn a linebacker, and toe-tap in the end zone like a seasoned WR. Here are 10 tight ends who moved like wide receivers.
10. David Njoku
Njoku has always had jaw-dropping athleticism, with the speed and fluidity of a wideout despite his massive frame. When he gets into open space, he looks more like a track star than a traditional tight end.
9. Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis didn’t just run like a wide receiver—he clocked a 4.38 at the combine and made it look effortless. His long strides and explosive burst made him a nightmare matchup in his prime.
8. Jordan Reed
Reed was never the biggest tight end, but his smooth route-running and quick-twitch movement made him feel more like a slot receiver. When healthy, he was Washington’s most dangerous weapon.
7. Kyle Pitts
Pitts entered the league with wide receiver expectations, and for good reason. His ability to run crisp routes and stretch the field deep is more WR1 than TE1.
6. Evan Engram
Engram plays the position like a pumped-up slot receiver, with speed to turn short passes into big gains. His footwork and separation skills have always felt more WR than TE.
5. Travis Kelce
Kelce may not have track speed, but the way he sets up defenders and finds open space is straight out of a wide receiver’s handbook. He’s like a savvy slot guy in a tight end’s body.
4. Jermichael Finley
Before injuries cut his career short, Finley looked like a wideout trapped in a tight end role. His burst off the line and downfield agility were way ahead of his time.
Read More: 15 NFL Tight Ends from the 90s Who Were a Decade Too Early
3. Darren Waller
Waller actually started as a wide receiver, and it shows every time he runs a route. He moves with the grace and speed of a WR, and defenders struggle to keep up.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Most Egotistical Tight Ends Ever to Play the Game
2. Jimmy Graham
In his prime, Jimmy Graham looked like a 6’7″ jump-ball receiver moonlighting as a tight end. Whether lined up in the slot or split wide, he moved like a true pass-catching specialist.
Read More: 15 Tight Ends Who Would Be Top-5 in the Modern NFL
1. Shannon Sharpe
Sharpe helped redefine what the tight end position could be, moving with a quickness and smoothness that made him feel like an oversized wideout. He was a matchup problem before that term even became trendy.
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